Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Why There Really Ought to be 10 Last Words, Not Just 7

getprismatic.com
How would you feel if Holy Week went by without you attending a 7 Last Words service? Honestly, would you feel guilty? Most people would--Roman Catholics, protestants, and born again Christians. And frankly, I don't know why.

The last words of Jesus before he was crucified were just that--last words. They need not be magnified, elaborated or made into sermons one must listen to when commemorating his death or feel guilty about if you miss them. They're quite self-explanatory like John 3:16 is. No need to fuss over them like a lot of ministers and theologians do, often using them to attack corruption in government, which is out of context.

Jesus never meant his last words to attack corruption in government.

In fact, there are other equally meaningful words Jesus said hours before he died, like:
  • Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children 
    [Luke 23.28]
  • My kingdom is not of this world [John 18.36]
  • You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above [John 19]
To me, there ought to be 10 Last Words, or even more. But why only seven? Perhaps, the Catholic theologians who invented this idea thought 7 was God's "lucky" number. Or maybe because the world was created in 7 days--or other religious (or superstitious?) stuff like that. Then, the protestants and born-agains followed suit. They just carried over the tradition, probably in an attempt to lure over Catholics to their side. Seeing how Catholics by the millions were attracted to the so-called Holy Week and its rituals, they copied everything in hopes of winning over some of them.

It's nothing but a second-rate, trying-hard, copy-cat human tradition.

You never read anywhere in the bible Jesus saying, "Thou shalt observe my 7 last words and have a whole worship service on it." In fact, there's nothing said about observing Holy Week but a simple recollection of his death through The Lord's Supper. And when the bible talks about recalling the Lord's Supper, it doesn't mean the ritual every church does today--eating that round white cracker (another carry-over from the Catholic church) and drinking artificial grape juice. 

Jesus didn't use Tang or 8 O'clock in the last supper. He used wine.

When I was yet a religious born-again, I was often asked to speak about a word or two of the 7 Last Words on Holy Friday, if not all 7. It felt funny then (but I had to do it) that I had to give a lot of meanings to what "I thirst" actually meant. Frankly, I knew that all it meant was that Jesus felt thirsty. Nothing more. And who wouldn't? After walking a long way under the hot sun and without eating breakfast and lunch, he must have felt not just terrible thirst but hunger.

But you see, church tradition said you should look for other meanings to it. So we hear a lot of weird versions about the verse, even political attacks against the government, or how God is thirsty for our surrendered lives or for our sincere repentance. God does want us to repent from sins, but that was not why Jesus said,"I thirst." He said it because he was thirsty. Period.

Then there's "Woman behold your son, son behold your mother." So what happens is, you hear a lot of stories about God prioritizing the family or how he values mothers and lift up the name of Mary in the process.  I even heard a sermon on birth control and abortion. Born-agains have it differently. They emphasize how children should love and obey their moms, and how moms should raise their kids in the Lord, then perhaps end it all with reference to the importance of Mother's Day.

Jesus really meant all that when he said his third last words? Wow!

And here's another favorite--"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" There are a thousand and one versions given to this verse that listening to all of them feels like circus. The favorite version is how God understands we are only human and we're not meant to be perfect. And this is often smartly interwoven with our tendency to sin and how God understands and overlooks even this through his grace and mercy given to born-agains--and the very reason why Jesus died on the cross, they say. "We don't need to be perfect because Jesus already died for us so we can be acceptable to God," they add.

But what Jesus said was just a cry of plain desperation. Jesus was in the worst condition ever--nailed on the cross and dying--and his human nature felt desperate. Period. He later made up for this by shouting his total trust and surrender to the Father--"Into your hands I commit my spirit!"  Nothing more, nothing less. I myself often cry thus in my mind--"Please God, don't leave me like this!" Then later I realize how God is in control of everything, so I add, "Okay God, you know what's best!"

You don't need Holy Week or 7-Last-Words rituals to remember what Jesus did for you on the cross. You just need God's Word daily in your heart.

You Need a New Job? Here's How to Get It and Prepare for It

www.abrjobs.com
You think you need a new job? You want to get out of that company you're working for now and start a new adventure somewhere else? If you think you deserve it (and perhaps you do), then here's what I suggest.

When I was still doing jobs, I decided to transfer company several times. And with God's help, I was able to do that. It was an adventure--you never know what would happen or even if another company would indeed take you in. To make matters worse, I had no school credentials--even a fake diploma--to show for it. I just handed my resume, that's all. I often got big points to my credit during interviews. I enjoyed interviews so much.

To get a new job, you should do 2 main things first:
  1. You should be confident about it. In my case, I prayed to God for the confidence.
  2. You should be good at talking fluently and writing well. It's easy when you pray and practice.
Practice, practice, practice!

Next, don't be choosy with job position. What I did was to search the classified ads and cut out everything that I could do--marketing, PR, writing, training, office works, call center jobs, etc. I sent my resume to all the job openings that fitted me--regardless of position--and prayed. Out of 10 to 20 applications, I would get 2 to 3 calls and report excitedly. You see, attitude is a major thing here. You have to be positive and excited.

If this week nothing happens, then get excited about what would happen next week. And so on, until you land on a new job. Job hunting is easy if you level up on your skills. and you need to focus on only four things:
  • Talking skills (being fluent in speaking English and Tagalog)
  • Writing skills
  • Typing skills 
  • Analytical skills
You master these things and keep advancing in them, you'd always get the job you want--even if you transfer companies now and then.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Why Some People Get Fatter in Summer

Summer is supposed to be lose-weight month. You should be losing weight because of the heat. Don't you hear people say they'd lose weight this summer and make up for all the calories and fat they gained in December? But why is it they gain even more weight in summer and then say they aim to lose weight after summer when the rainy days come.

But guess what happens in the rainy days? It's cold and the appetite seem more active and ravenous so that even a simple dish of fried rice and dried fish (tuyo) make you finish 2 to 3 rounds of helpings. So you gain more weight and aim to lose weight (promise!) during the coming semestral break. And the vicious cycle goes on.

End result? No weight loss. Just weight gain--and even in summer. We wonder, what went wrong here?

I see only one thing clearly--the talk was never walked. When summer approaches, we're full of noble plans because we see how we'll have more free time to workout physically. But when summer actually comes, we get trapped in so much fun, outings--and more fun and outings--that we soon consume all our summer days without leaving enough for our planned workouts.

So, some people get fatter in summer.

What's more, outings are when we prepare delicious foods for picnic. You hardly see folks go out for picnics bringing nothing but vegetable salad or boiled tofu. What we do is bring the most delicious foods our money can buy--porkchops, costly fish, prime beef, cakes and pasties, and the like. And seldom do we drink pure and bitter green tea. We drink beverages loaded with sugar and caffeine.

Thus, no matter how we try working out to lose weight, we gain more than lose anything. Again, you see, it's all about not walking the talk. That's the main problem.

We can enjoy summer and delicious food without compromising our fitness aims. The key here is discipline. You see, every solution is simple:

  • Walk the talk
  • Discipline
Just focus on these two things this summer. You think you can do that? If you can, expect a new you on June. It's Choy's Cut for summer. Here are some tips how to drop the fat this summer!

Why Bones Get Brittle without Vitamin C

www.100pitches.org 
We were never told that lack of Vitamin C will make our bones brittle. All we know of bone health is to take enough calcium. Not Vitamin C. With Vitamin C, all we know is that it's good for body resistance against cold, cough and scurvy. Well, they didn't actually lie to us--they just didn't tell us everything there was to know. They probably also didn't know about these things.

But it came out in The Journal of Biological Chemistry. A study was done which discovered the pivotal role of Vitamin C in bone health. It's not just calcium we need but Vitamin C as well. In particular, the study found out that taking a bit more of Vitamin C (slightly higher than just getting enough for your immune health) actually promotes higher bone mass, lowering, if not preventing, bone fracture incidence. 

Osteoporosis drugs only take care of osteoclasts, or those cells that destroy bones. They do not rehabilitate and build up bones like Vitamin C does. This vitamin stimulates osteoblast cell production, building bone cells in the process, promoting constant bone renewal. I never knew this till I stumbled upon it one day while doing a research for a client. Now I know I have to take a little bit more of Vitamin C for my bones.

You see, if you'd just rely on traditional facts discovered eons ago and never update yourself with your own online research, you'd miss a lot and no one would care enough to tell you about them, especially not those you pay exorbitant medical fees to. Some medical experts are afraid you might really get well so they never tell you everything. Self medication through Google is not a good thing (you need your regular medical check up) but you need to do your own medical research now and then to cross check and update.

Anyway, citrus fruits and other fruits are rich in Vitamin C, so eat as much as you can, but I must warn you--many of them are loaded with chemical pesticides that poison your system aside from wreck your bone health. And with the fact that Vitamin C quickly evaporates from fruits when they are mishandled during delivery or sits a long time in fruit stalls or at the grocery store, I doubt if you'd get enough of it for your immune system. What more for your bone health?

That's why I supplement with Vital C. I eat lots of fruits when they're around and love drinking fresh fruit juices like kalamansi juice, but I never settle for them. I take non-acidic Vitamin C supplements to make sure. It's got to be non-acidic, like Vital C. Anyway, you can never "overdose" with Vitamin C because once your body has enough, it automatically gets rid of excess Vitamin C through your urine and sweat. Your body doesn't store or manufacture Vitamin C.

So count on it, you will only gain health with Vitamin C:
  • Immune boost
  • Delayed aging
  • Fat burning and weight loss
  • Cleansing and detox
  • Bone health 

Friday, March 20, 2015

Want to Try Basic Snorkeling?

animo.dlsu-usg.com
One summer day of 1980 (I was in third year college) we tried snorkeling out on the coasts of Bagac, Bataan. From the National Power Corporation rest houses we rode a private jeep to the Bagac beach with some food and snacks, and of course, our goggles. The water was fine--blue and crystal clear--and you'd be surprised at the white sand on the shore. Not so white though, but it was white.

After testing the cool waters that morning (about 9 am), we swam  to chest deep waters and started our snorkeling. I was surprised that at chest deep we saw corals and fish and the other colorful under water sea life of Bagac. None of us were expert divers then but we took some tips from the native divers in the area who did deep sea dives organically--without scuba gears.

And I was so fascinated! At once, I wanted to be like that--being able to dive deeply with just raw fresh oxygen in my lungs. I think I did mention somewhere here on my blog (or was it on my other blog?) that I once dreamed of being a Philippine Navy sailor.

So we wore our goggles and breathed deeply to reserve enough oxygen in our lungs and dived. It was difficult trying to stay under water because sea water made you easily float. But a trick I learned was to keep your feet and legs up so your body would tilt down from head to waist and stay underwater, enjoying the unique sights. Then just keep kicking your feet to push your self further down, aided by the your hands now and then. At that shallow level, we already marveled at the world underneath.

What more if you were deep-sea diving?

The small colorful fish were just a grab away from us but your arm grab could never outdo the speed at which they swam away. Then they would stay just outside your grab and then come close again, as if daring you to try another grab.

At lunch time we had kinilaw na dilis, paksiw na isda, and rice and then we went back snorkeling. It was addicting. We had bread and peanut butter for snacks. It was a simple picnic. Then at 3 pm when we felt the waves were beginning to rise and strengthen, we decided to call it a day.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Why Read Detective Fiction This Summer

www.vbctulsa.com
I learned the joy of reading detective mystery books when I was in third year high school. Before that, I read only martial arts books even though my dad tried to lure me with the many books he kept buying on mysteries--books by Agatha Christie, Alfred Hitchcock, and Sherlock Holmes. He also bought Readers Digest monthly.

Finally, one hot summer, I just decided to pick up one Agatha Christie pocketbook and started reading. I was stunned to see myself finishing the whole book. Ordinarily, when it wasn't on martial arts, I easily fell asleep after reading 2 to 3 pages. But this time, I couldn't stop till I finished the whole thing. I told my dad about it and he looked so accomplished.

That started my reading journey. Since then, I gave my dad another problem--I was spending lots of money and time on reading. Fact was, I even came out of the restroom with piles of books in hand--after spending 2 hours in there reading books while doing what people usually did in restrooms. I almost completely neglected my college course in favor of reading various books, and that made my dad worry.

Now, why read detective fiction this summer?

Simple--so you'd turn out better intellectually equipped come the new school year. And why detective fiction? Because books like this keep you in suspense and asking for more. Never a dull or boring moment. And you get everything--suspense, thriller, mystery, action, romance, and comedy. Well, if you're not a student anymore, it helps you better perform in your career. Here are reasons why:

  • It helps you develop analysis and logical thinking
  • Develops your attention for detail
  • Helps you think sharply and smartly
  • It challenges your reasoning and problem solving ability
  • It makes you more alert and aware
  • It makes you more observant and thorough
  • Broadens your imagination
  • Enriches your vocabulary and improves grammar
  • Helps you write better
  • You get to travel "around the world" without leaving home
In fact, I got lots of managerial positions in companies owing greatly to my reading habit more than my schooling--I didn't have any school credentials, actually. 

And there's no better time to indulge in reading than in summer when you have more time for hobbies and adventures. Here's a site on mystery-detective e-books to checkout.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

What If Your Ambition Doesn't Come True?

www.porcelainsandpeacocks.com
Probably 7 of 10 ambitions don't come true. I've talked to lots of people who dreamed and aimed at being this but ended up being that. Watch this--
  • A medtech who is now in library science
  • An architect who is now a farmer
  • An IT who is now in business selling books
  • Countless medicine and nursing graduates who are now call center agents
  • Teachers and commerce graduates who are now in Hong Kong as DHs
  • An architect who's now a pastor
  • Engineers who are into full-time life insurance selling
  • Journalism graduate now into full-time store management
So, what's your chances of having your ambition come true?

Ambitions are mostly inspirations for us to pursue forward, but what we actually end up with is what's available to us in real life. Most of us cannot be choosers--we grab what's available before us. It was my ambition to be an army general (preferably with the Scout Rangers) or navy commander and had prepared myself for PMA training in Baguio. I tried to be among the top in Math subjects (I heard PMA was Math intensive) and worked out a lot physically. But when the time came, the opportunity wasn't available. 

So I ended up with BS Architecture, and which is why I'm a writer-blogger today (I'm laughing).

Did I fail? Just because my ambition never materialized doesn't mean I failed. God allows us to pursue our interests but the final decisions are still his. "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps," [Proverbs 16.9]. And again, "To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue," [Proverbs 16.1]. 

So, what if your ambition doesn't come true? Well, doesn't matter. Just go on with where the Lord leads you. Just follow his bidding. In my case, I was hurt a bit when the ambition fizzled out in the end. But later, I saw why. And today, looking back, I just smile and sigh--those were the days. I'm happy where I am and with what I do. There can't be another meaningful career than this. God really knows what's best.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Three Best Ways to Get Fit this Summer Vacation--And Enjoy a Better Dive at the Beach!


We're halfway in March and you should already have a good plan for summer vacation. Summers are best spent with a particular goal in mind. When I was a kid, we had only one goal for summer: have fun. In high school, however, we started realizing how some things are worth more for summer than having fun--pursuing our crush. 

But in college, we started getting more serious about life. So, we took to the beaches during summer. Some of my friends even took up diving. I and my childhood friend tried snorkeling in Bataan. Or, we enrolled for summer classes so we could finish our college earlier and have more time at the beach after college. Well, a lot of us looked for summer jobs so we could join summer outings that the companies we worked for did for team building at the beach.

But seriously, summer is an apt time to start getting healthy and fit and be like that the rest of your life. Who knows, you can even start a hobby on diving! The right time to decide and start is always in summer--you have more ample time and things like this seem easier to do when everyone is in the mood for an adventure.

1. Walk and Run! Summer is the right time to start running and brisk walking regularly. It's not too cold to get up early in the morning (5 am is ideal) and taking a shower after is no big deal--the water is just fine and refreshing. You may also want to start dong pushups and perhaps a little weight training? Do a project this summer--make your own cement weights. You don;t need to enroll in a gym. Just make concrete dumb bells. Start this summer and never stop all through life.

2. Correct Eating Habits! Eat 3 square meals a day--not just lunch and supper. This summer, start treating breakfast seriously. And since fruits and vegetables are a hit in summer, start making them as major parts of your meals. Drink more fresh fruit juices!

3. Start natural health supplements! Supplements are no longer an option. If you're serious about health and fitness, natural health supplements are a given. So, start it this summer.

Well, going back to diving--you may be really serious about this (that's why you checked this article out in the first place) and want to start being good at it by being a fit diver. If so, just watch this FREE video tips on diving workouts.

If you're consistent enough, your classmates or colleagues may see a new you post-summer!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Laugh Your Way Out of Sadness: Why Laughter is Not Just the Best Medicine

Thank God for laughter and a sense of humor. Without this mechanisms, life vicissitudes will be much less tolerable. If you want a quick change of topic in your life, you can do it by simply laughing. It's as easy as changing the channel on your TV or radio set.

No doubt, life should be taken seriously, but not to the extent of being seriously ill for it. I take life seriously, but with lots of breaks for laughter and good jokes. If you see me in person, I look serious and sometimes even meanly at that. A lot of folks are alarmed when I stare at them. I watch them tremble as I scrutinize their person. Well, that's me. I've been like that ever since--and I don't know why. Probably my decades of martial arts training.

Mean but Often, I Don't Mean To

Anyway, my serious looks would easily fool you because inside, I'm really a relaxed and patient guy. I am one so easy to appreciate clean jokes and lots of good laughter. And I'm also easy to please. Just give me a smile and it'd be smooth sailing from there.

My point is, I can quickly switch to laughing mode. I see funny things in almost everything and that enables me relax even during tight situations. Being free from stress that could hold or freeze me, I can think better and assess my situation more reasonably. And that makes it easier to get out of needless emotional sufferings like sadness. That's why folks find me always cool, relaxed, and unperturbed, always patient and calm, able to maintain presence of mind. This is God's grace to me.

Well, you won't find me literally always laughing. I laugh mentally, especially during moments that call for seriousness and solemnity. You can't keep me from laughing just because of the solemn moment we may have for the moment. You won't hear or see it but I can laugh out loud even in times like that through my mind. I'm a free spirit.

Laughter is not just the best medicine--it's the best way to survive life, especially when dealing with its emotional distresses. It's the best door to freedom, and it always lies open for you to walk in any time you need to. It's among God's graces to man. And yes, we all have the ability to do it. And here's how to discover your ability for it.

Proven Techniques to Turn Sadness to Joy!

So learn how to enjoy laughter, even laughing at your own mistakes. It's lots better than a trip around the world with stress and sadness as your companions. Here's an e-book that can help you turn your sadness into laughter. With practice, you can do this at will, and it will take effect instantly. You can be laughing the very instant you feel sad! Believe me, we have not yet discovered the full powers of our minds--especially the mind's ability to command the body, even pain and emotions.

The ebook, "How to Turn Your Loneliness to Laughter" is written by my blogging associate who just wants to be known online plainly as the "Loneliness Guru," claiming to have mastered loneliness and how to reign over it through years of dealing successfully with it--specifically turning sadness to laughter. Knowing this guy, he has experienced one of the most bitter lives ever lived on this planet--and yet survived with top performance and prevailed.

In his ebook, he gives proven tips on how to cope with sadness, misfortunes, failures, and dreams and ambitions that never prospered--even a failed love life--and even come out a real happy winner, enjoying a full life, in the end!

To buy, click this link.

After paying through Paypal, you immediately get your PDF copy of the e-book. Paying through the other options, you wait for a day or less after emailing the necessary information.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Garcinia Cambogia Craze: Jinkee Pacquiao's Secret to Fast and Effective Slimming?

You may have seen Jinkee Pacquiao after losing 20 pounds in just a month! Since then, Garcinia Cambogia has become more popular in the fitness and wellness circles in the Philippines. A brand of Garcinia Cambogia was allegedly recommended to her by Hollywood celebrity Paris Hilton and other celebrities here and abroad followed suit.

The organic pumpkin-like fruit comes from Indonesia (also in Africa, Southeast Asia, and India) which is said to increase metabolism and fat burning by 318 percent, according to studies by the health research institution, UCLA, Los Angeles. Aside from effective and fast weight loss, it is also said to promote heart and digestive health and provides you with rich antioxidants vital for immune health and anti-aging.

The average fat loss is said to be 1 pound per week. In some cases, it could be more, especially when coupled with diet and exercise. But a lot of claims say you can lose weight with Garcinia Cambogia even without dieting or exercising! The product has 3 slimming actions:
  • Detox
  • Metabolism boost
  • Fat burning
  • Naturally suppresses appetite
Here are other benefits:

-Controls sugar cravings
-Regulates levels of Blood Sugar
-Lowers blood Cortisol levels
-Converts stored fat for fuel burning
-Increases serotonin levels
-Helps stabilize moods
-Lowers LDL cholesterol
-Inhibits or blocks Fat


Best of all, it is all-natural. No chemicals, additives, or preservatives.

There are a lot of Garcinia Cambognia brands, however. You have to choose what you think would best work for you, and what your money can afford. Here are some examples. Visit this link to check out Naturo Sciences Garcinia Cambogia Pure or Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract.

CAUTION: Please check with your medical doctor about this product before you try it. This blog and the article writer will not be responsible for any undesirable effect. This article is merely for information sharing.

Monday, March 9, 2015

McDo Muffin Day: What a National Breakfast Treat Feels Like and What It May be All About


Just to see how a McDonald's National Breakfast Treat is like, I decided to visit the nearest McDo outlet in our area. I woke up at 5 am (my sister even texted to make sure I was already awake) and prepared to troop to the outlet with my wife and youngest kid. My older kid wanted to go but the cold early morning proved too much for him. He passed.

At 6 am, we got to the outlet and people were already waiting in line. Not that long, though, so I felt elated--I didn't have to wait long to get my sausage muffin. I told a tricycle driver if he was aware that McDo was buying 1,000 folks a muffin breakfast each, on the house. He was shocked. "For free?" He asked in spite of my explanation.

Cars were also waiting in a long line along Road 20. I got my cam out and started taking pictures. It was an exciting scene. Folks from all walks of life walked there with their kids and spouses to get a free meal from McDo. And I felt like it was some special day--imagine, getting a free meal. And it was a meal. I mean, the muffin sandwich had a whole egg and flat sausage. That's lots of protein and carbohydrates.

I watched people's faces and reactions. Some handed their coupons at the counter like it was their constitutional right to get the muffin. Some were excited and others were grateful, probably first timers as I was. Some just went in and claimed the free muffin and got out, just like that--many of them high school students.

I felt so good getting a free breakfast, though I could easily afford a muffin. I was thinking, McDonald's was so kind and thoughtful to treat its customers (which, for sure, are also patrons of McDo's competitors) a free breakfast. It's actually a good marketing strategy. It shows:

  • McDonald's is unique with its customer service, especially how it values customers.
  • The company is making good money, easily affording free meals to outlet customers nationwide.
  • Most Filipinos have a "you owe me one" mentality. You do them a favor or buy them a free meal and they'd never forget that. In fact, they'd even feel "indebted" in some way because of it. So a free meal may be one good way of hooking customers to your products. 

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Why Adobo is Really Summer Food

sunro.nl
Summer is outings and what better food to bring along in a picnic outing than adobo? In fact, to me, summer has become synonymous with adobo! It's easy to cook--doesn't need much attention when cooking (pork or chicken)--and it lasts long with its vinegar content which is a natural preservative. You can cook it the night before and even if you have to eat it at lunch or supper time the day after, it's still good!

Dry Adobo or Adobo Fry

The tip here is to cook it dry. If you have to eat it a long time after cooking it, adobo should be cooked dry. So, with the usual ingredients (a measure of soy sauce and vinegar, chopped garlic and onions, pepper powder or crushed seeds. laurel leaves, some water, and the meat), boil it until cooked, drain the stew (you may make soup out of it), and fry till dry with a little cooking oil. It tastes like adobo barbecue! Dry adobo lasts longer than stewed or sauced adobo.

It will last even longer if you heat it before eating. And dry adobo goes so, so well with chopped tomatoes and salted and peppered sliced cucumber. I love it with steamed camote tops, boiled okra, and chopped Indian mangoes and onions with fish sauce (bagoong).

Adobo is the choice for cooking quick rice meals. For instance, you traveled 4 hours and reached your destination at past 12 noon and you still need to cook lunch because you love freshly cooked meals. Adobo is it! Just mix everything into the pot and boil for 45 minutes in low fire. In some cases, 30 minutes would do if the meat is really fresh.

I like mixing adobo with lots of potatoes when cooking it. Put in the potato chunks with everything and boil till cooked. Potatoes taste something else when cooked in adobo. The potatoes in themselves are enough for a meal.

A vital tip here--when vinegar is poured into the mixture, NEVER stir it. Never touch it again until the concoction boils. After it boils, then you can stir or do anything to it.

Adobo Grill

Instead of frying adobo after boiling it, grill it. This is better smelling and tasting than marinated meat. Just keep turning the meat after a few seconds to prevent burning it black. And adobo takes only a few moments to grill. Don't overcook it.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

CHANGE YOUR LIFE THIS SUMMER: How to be Positive-Minded from Now On

lifehack.org
Positive-minded---it's among most worthy goals you can work out to hit this summer vacation. Aside from a time to have fun, summer vacation is when you can also try to workout a self-improvement project to have a new image when the new school year comes. I did that during summer so I'd have a better college school year ahead. One goal was to have a summer job, and the summer of 1982 I landed on a casual job working for the government.

Another summer vacation, I worked on having a more athletic and muscular body. Sure enough I hit the goal before classes started. I did some weights, pushups, pull-ups, running, and martial arts and as expected I looked like an action star before enrollment started and my classmates hardly recognized that it was me. Spending summer vacations like that is productive and fun.

So, how about changing your life this summer and be more positive-minded? Being positive-minded means expecting the best from life and working it out to make it a reality. Specifically, it means aiming at a goal and getting it because you worked at it systematically. We all need this and this summer is the right time to start it.

By the way, if it isn't summer in your country, no problem, You can try these tips regardless of what season you're in--and it's definitely sow and reap season for all of us all the time. So, sow the right seeds.

Find something happy in everything. To begin being positive-minded, find something happy in everything that happens in your life--even in the most unfortunate ones. Find something funny or anything to be glad about. You're bound to find one. Lots of my friends got a lot of failing grades in college and they didn't like it one bit. Then there was this popular fast food outlet along Recto Avenue in Manila that offered a free meal for every failing grade you presented.

At first it was odd. And then it became fun! We saw lots of students from nearby universities availing of the promo, and they were having fun out of the tragedy. It wasn't because it was fun getting a failing grade. But the fact was, they couldn't do anything about it already. So why add insult to injury? (Though at first glanced it seemed rather insulting--your failing grades for a free chicken meal). Why cry over spilled milk?

We laughed at the sight of students having free meals from their failed grades but I learned something valuable from it--in even the worse scenarios, it's important to find something to be happy about. It drives away too much stress and anxiety which can cause you more serious problems than mere failed grades.

Work out a powerful come-back! After laughing at your mistakes (or getting a free meal from your failed grades), aim to get a sweet revenge and work at it real good! And this is what you should do this summer--set aside enough time to read books and study to prepare for next school year. This improves yourself a lot. Think about what you failed in during the just concluded school year (in this case, school year 2014-2015) and make it your goal this summer to correct yourself and improve on it. Is it Algebra? Physics? Chemistry? An engineering subject?

Or, you'r probably already in a job and stress or boredom probably made you negative-minded. Renew your life and start thinking positively by aiming to be better at your job. You probably already hate your job now but improving at it will do you lots of good--if not get promoted in your present job then in getting a new, better job!

In my case, I didn't care much about being promoted or getting a better job. I just wanted to improve myself to be a better person.

Anyway, changing yourself and being positive-minded become more possible with reading books and wanting to meet new people. These are two things I found to be very effective if you want an effective makeover by next school year or after summer. You have 4 months to work this out, starting March, so that come June you're a new person. Read, read, read! Reading good books that inspire helps develop a positive thinker in you.

Believe in God and yourself. Finally, believe that God is good and has a very good plan for your life. Nobody is a failure no matter what bad things may happen--it's just your imagination that makes you so. Your imagination can either break or make you, and I'd always prefer an imagination that makes me. Sometimes, things can turn out so bad, but you have to hang on with a positive belief. This summer, start believing that God is so good and has a powerful plan for you--and he means to make it all happen!

How Do You Do This?

How do you develop this mentality in you? I started by studying the bible everyday. Start this summer and onward. Keep it up! It will develop a positive mind in you and really change your life in a way you never imagined! As you're doing it, make sure to enroll in our FREE self-improvement emailed newsletter subscription to get encouraging updates on change and positive thinking. Simply click here to enroll! Click on SIGN UP!

Lastly, this article written by my associate on turning sadness into laughter will greatly help you!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Eco Farm Batangas


I think it was 5 years ago when we went to Eco Farm in Sto. Tomas, Batangas for an overnight Lent retreat. Not that I observe Lent, but in my post about the trip in one of my blogs, I said, "Lent should be a time for fun and celebration because when Jesus died, it was access for us to heaven for eternity!" or something to that effect. So, we had so much fun that time.

Eco Farm is a real farm where fruit trees and other plants abound. We didn't have time to explore the whole place but what we saw was impressive enough, especially the rambutan trees. There were also 3 small mansions (two of which have bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bathrooms), which were our accommodations actually, the kiddy and adult pools, the orchard, sprawling lawns where I conducted a treasure hunt, picnic area, a common dining on the ground floor, a video room near the pool, and the native huts.

Eco Farm is ideal for family, church or company outing. It is both far enough from town to enjoy peace and quiet and near enough to access commercial establishments easily for anything you need to buy. From Makati it's probably just 45 minutes. I hope we go back there one vacation time.

In the morning, the cool quiet surroundings were perfect (cool even in April!) for Word meditation and a round of martial arts workout. It was fun just staying by the picnic sheds near the pool all morning and afternoon, munching on food and chatting about life, reminiscing the past, having lots of laughter, and watching the kids play. Everything was like a poem and a song.

If you want to make inquiries or book the place, just Google it by typing Eco Farm Batangas. You'd see a mobile phone contact number. Last time I Googled it, this was the result:

Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Lalawigan ng Batangas
0917 831 6609


Double check just in case.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

3 Sure Ways to Make Money This Summer

bluecloudsolutions.com
Summer is fun and it's triply fun if you can make money while enjoying summer vacation! I did this several times while enjoying summer in college. And here are 3 surefire tips how!

Do Chores for People for a Fee! You can do all sorts of errands for people for a fee. To me this is better that getting a summer job that ties you down to a daily office schedule and make you miss summer outings with family and friends. Here are some of them:

  • Do laundries for people. I actually did this. I asked folks around if they wanted me to wash their office uniforms for them. I did this in the morning so I could be free in the afternoon. I used our manual water pump so there was no cost incurred in our water bill. If you use water from the faucet, just share a little for the water bill.
  • Drafting. That time when auto cad wasn't in much use yet, I drafted architectural and engineering plans for people for a fee. I did it for 3 days and became free the rest of the week--in fact, the rest of summer. One drafting project was enough for me to enjoy an entire summer. You may also draw or sketch for a fee or make small painted billboards (I did both) if you know basic lettering techniques.
  • Merchandising. Offer to buy stuff for people. For instance, instead of them going to the wet market or grocery store to buy things, you may do it for them for a fee. They may need to go far to buy something in Divisoria or at some mall or else pay bills or property tax or secure some papers or documents. You may do these things for them and they just pay you your labor plus fare and meals. 
  • Wall painting or lawn mowing. Also try traditional part-time summer jobs like wall painting or lawn mowing. In waterless areas, try fetching water for neighbors for a fee. I also tried this once.
Photography or Video! If you know the basics, offer to be the official photographer or video recorder for a graduating pupil or student or on birthdays. Just look around and there are sure to be would-be graduates or birthday celebrants in the neighborhood this March or this summer. Another example is to be an official family photographer during summer outings. They won't have to worry about picture taking because you got it all covered. All they have to do is enjoy the outing naturally as you take candid shots at them. Charge them an all-expense-paid trip plus your labor--say P500 a day. You get to travel, have fun, and make money!

Summer Job! If you get a worse scenario and all you can do is look for a summer job, then go to the government agency nearest you. They often offer summer jobs for students. Or, ask friends for private companies needing extra temporary help for a month or two. I've tried summer jobs and learned to also enjoy the adventure especially by treating yourself to malling rewards on weekends!

5 Ways to Prepare to Get the Job You Want

glassdoor.com
Imagine, without any transcript or school credentials to back me up, I got the managerial jobs I wanted when I used to apply for jobs. While most people were so problematic about applying for jobs and especially the interview, I was enjoying all of them. You know what their real problems was? The inability to express themselves well in English, both oral and written.

They had the best credentials in the world, a lot better than what I put in my resume. But when interview time and exams came, their results negated all their excellent school records. And it wasn't that they couldn't speak in English or answer the interview and exam questions. Their problem was speaking and writing confidently.

You see, without the needed self confidence (or too much of it), everything else tends to debacle. You stutter and say and write silly things about yourself. And you look like you're interrogated than talking professionally with the interviewer. In fact, with the right self confidence, you can even put the interviewer in an insecure situation without meaning to with how you present yourself well. It happened to me a lot of times--interviewers ending up being the interviewees.

To avoid being too confident and ending up with welling pride, learn to be meek and nice. Check my article on this by visiting this link!

So, here are my 5 ways to prepare to get the job you want:

1. Read a lot! While yet in college, I read lots of books. I always read newspapers cover to cover and loved analyzing editorials. I saved part of my allowance to buy good books. Later, when I began earning money on the side from my drafting skills while still in college (I was also a working student), I bought more books. If you encounter a new word, look it up in the dictionary to enrich your vocabulary and learn how to pronounce them right. Read, read, read!

2. Talk a lot to Yourself! Ever heard of soliloquy? I got the habit from my dad who always talked to himself verbally. He spoke out how he'd explain a subject matter and even entertained questions from his "audience," his imagined audience, that is, because he was also a public speaker. I soliloquized a lot, talking to myself as I faced the mirror and correcting any bad mannerisms or facial expressions. I also imagined talking to an interviewer or facing a big audience. I made it a point to speak clearly and pronounce words correctly. Later, I tested my speaking skills with people I met, then much later, to audiences of various sizes. I'm telling you, it does wonders to how you perform in any job interviews. Piece of cake. While still in college and fresh out of it, I was already a job interview master, by God's grace.

3. Write a lot! You may say, "I'm not a writer." Well, neither was my mom, but she wrote a lot! She kept this diary where she wrote in English. The habit developed her writing ability, grammar, and even the way she spoke. Writing makes you naturally write and speak English with good grammar. I picked up the habit of doing diaries (and now blogs) and wrote a lot, until I just found myself able to write so well that I put several of my college professors in an insecure position with my essays without meaning to. Even when doing researches and class oral reports, I enjoyed them so much while all my classmates found them daunting.

In fact, I got excellent grades during our thesis deliberations, all because of my love for reading and writing, which are all by God's grace. Everything is because God is good and great!

4. Exercise regularly! A lot of people, even most of those who give advices on job interviews, don't connect physical conditioning with speaking ability especially during job interviews. But there is a direct relationship between them. Nervousness is among your worse enemies during job interviews, and if you don't exercise regularly, controlling your heart beat can be a problem.

I've been an exercise buff, so a job interview or exam was never a big deal to me. I was always calm, enjoyed everything, and thought clearly. My heart beat and BP were always normal. Nervousness can rattle you up especially with timed exams. But with good health and fitness, your brain and nervous system function well. And by the way, being fit makes you stand, walk and sit more confidently. You wear clothes well, too.

5. Eat right! Being overweight takes away a lot of points from your interview rate. So make it a habit to exercise and eat right. And eat healthy food, especially for brain health and memory enhancement. Fish (salmon, mackerel, and tuna for instance) and nuts (peanuts, walnuts, macadamia, almonds, pistachio) are good, as well as green leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, and camote tops), sunflower seeds, avocado, berries, and lean meat.

Remember, the 5 tips here are preparations way before a job interview and exam. Don't do them the night before. They won't work overnight. You have to be doing them for at least 6 months or more to benefit well from them. especially reading, writing, and exercise. Make them your habits.

For more on good specific answers for specific job interview questions, check this out!

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